Find out how popular the last name Kenison is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Kenison.

Kenison, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Kenison surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Kenison in America

Kenison is the 23943rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Kenison surname appeared 1,054 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Kenison.

We can also compare 2010 data for Kenison to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Kenison

The surname Kenison is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "kene" meaning bold or brave, and "son" which denotes a descendant or son. This combination suggests that the name was likely given to someone who was considered a brave or courageous person.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Kenison can be traced back to the 13th century in various areas of England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. The name was also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the surname Kenison was Sir Richard Kenison, a knight who fought alongside King Edward I in the Scottish Wars of Independence during the late 13th century. Another notable figure was John Kenison, a wealthy merchant from York who lived in the 14th century and was involved in the wool trade.

In the 16th century, the Kenison family was particularly prominent in the village of Keniston, located in the county of Norfolk. This place name likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that a person named Kenison may have been an early settler or landowner in the area.

During the 17th century, several Kenisons emigrated to the American colonies, including William Kenison, who arrived in Virginia in 1635, and Thomas Kenison, who settled in Massachusetts in 1638. These early settlers helped establish the Kenison name in the New World.

Another notable individual with the surname Kenison was Sir Edward Kenison, a British military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1744 and played a significant role in several battles against the Continental Army.

Throughout history, the surname Kenison has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including soldiers, merchants, landowners, and settlers. While the name may have evolved slightly in spelling over time, its origins and meaning have remained deeply rooted in the concepts of bravery and courage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Kenison

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Kenison.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Kenison was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Kenison has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Kenison was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Kenison, please contact us.

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